Crashproof fire wall



Nov. 192 4. 1,514,428

G. W. BURKE, JR

CRASH PROOF FIRE WALL Filed Sept. 12, 1922 Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

GEORGE W. BURKE, JR., 0]? DAYTON, OHIO.

CRASHPROOF FIRE WALL.

Application filed September 12, 1922. Serial No. 587,832.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BURKE, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dayton, in the county. of Montgomery and State of()hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CrashproofFire Walls, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to fire prevention means for air craft and moreparticularly to a fire proof bulkhead tobe placed between the engine andthe gas tank of an airplane. Flying by plane is necessarily fraught withnumerous dangers and the most hazardous of all is fire. In most caseswhere planes have caught fire it has been due to bursting ofthe gas tankallowing the gas to spray on the hot engine or manifold or come incontact with a spark. Very often the gas tank bursts on the crash of theplane resulting in enormous loss of life and property which might havebeen saved had not the accident occurred to the tank.

It is therefore the prime object of my invention to provide means whichwill effectually prevent bursting of the gas tank on impact of the planewith the ground in a crash and further, to resiliently absorb the shock,gently and gradually cushioning the impact of the tank. It is a furtherobject of my invention to so construct the gas tank cushioning meansthat it will also act as a fire proof bulkhead to minimize the danger offiredue to spraying of gasoline on the hot parts of the engine from abursted tank Further objects will become apparent from the claimsanLfron the description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device with portions shown brokenaway;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of my shock absorbingmembers.

In the drawing '2, 2' designate the longerons of the plane which carryand support the weight of the gas tank 4 and engine 6. Between the gastank 4 and en inc 6 is placed my bulkhead generally designated 8 whichcomprises an a unainu-m back plate 10 extending the full width andheighth of the fuselage structure, a front plate 12 of the same materialconstructed with reinforcing ribs 14, and springs 16 of the hour-glasstype arranged between the two bulkhead walls 10 and 12 to resilientlyand gradually absorb the imp-act pressure of the gas tank on the engineshould the plane crash. The front plate 12 extends the full sectionwidth and heighth as does the plate 10 and both plates may be made ofother material than aluminum provided it. be fire proof and ofsufficient strength and lightness.

The bulkhead 8.may ,be assembled as a unit and securely fastened betweenthe engine and gastank to the l'ongrons or in any other suitable manner,or it may be assembled in place. An additional bulkhead may be arrangedbetween the pilots seat and the gas tank and the sides of the bulkheadsmay be coated or faced with asbestos.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In aircraft, afire proof bulkhead of light material and adapted for resilientresistance to impact pressure, located between the fuel tank and engine.

2. In air-craft, a fire proof bulkhead comprising light fire proofmaterial. construction and arranged to provide a resilientshock'abso-rbing means between the fuel tank and another section of saidaircraft.

3. A fire proof bulkhead for aircraft located adjacent and inconjunction with fuel tank comprising fire proof walls and resilientmeans disposed in conjunction therewith for absorbing impact pressure ofsaid tank.

4. A fire proof bulkhead for airplanes comprising, a plurality of spacedapart walls, said walls being of light fire proof material and resilientmeans disposed therebetween for absorbing impact shocks of one sectionof the airplane against another part thereof.

5. In aircraft, a fire proof bulkhead between the fuel tank and anotherportion of the ship comprising a wall of light fire proof material nextsaid fuel tank, a second wall of similar material disposed adjacent andin conjunction with said other section and means therebetweenforresiliently and gradually absorbing impact pressure of said tank againstsaid other section.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

GEORGE W. BU KE, JR..

